Low-water indicator



2 SheetsShe'et 1..

(No Model.)

L, P. SMITH.

LOW WATER'INDIGATOR.

Patented Dec. 9, 1884.

Attbrney (No Model) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

- L. F. SMITH.

LOW WATER INUIGATOR.

No. 309,106. Patented Dec. 9, 1884.

UNITED drarns a'rnnrr tries,

LEVI F. SMITH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

LOW WATER BNDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 309,106, dated December 9,1884%.

Application filed May 8, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEVI F. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Phila= delphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Low-\Vater Indicators, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to low water indicators, and is designed as an improvement over the device patented by me September 6, 1870, No. 107,114, and entitled steam-indicator.

The object of the improvement is to provide a means for detecting any meddling or tanr pering with the indicator, and also to show whether or not the device is in perfect working order without lowering the water-level in the boiler.

In describing the improvement reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents an elevation, partly in section, of the indicator of former patent with the improvement attached, and Fig. 2 a section through the improvement, detached.

A represents a straight pipe adapted to be screwed into a boiler, and is continued for a short distance therein, and there adapted to have screwed on it an additional pipe of any desired length to extend into the water. The extension on A is shown at B.

Integral with A is a side pipe, 0, having its bore separated from that through A by a diaphram D, so placed and ofsuch shape as to deflect the passage, so that it will Open into the boiler just below the point where the pipe A screws into the said boiler, as shown at E. The end of the pipe G extends upward at right angles, as shown at F, the upper end of which is connected to A by a rod, G, perforated at H,for the reception of a part of the indicating mechanism. The end ofthe pipe G is provided with a screw-plug, I.

Through the diaphragm D is an orifice, K, having the portion entering into the passage in the pipe A formed into a valve-seat. Op-

posite this, in the outer wall of the said pipe A, is screwed a valvecap, L, and stuffing-box L, having an internal screw-th read. Through this passes a valve-stem. M, having a thread corresponding to that in the cap, and at its inner end a proper valve, N, adapted to enter the valve-seat K. The outer end of the stem is provided with an ordinary handtwhee], O, for manipulating it. Normally the steam is in the pipe G, and passes upward through the extension F to a whistle entering through the orifice E. Also, the steam pressure in the boiler causes the water to fill the pipe A and its upper connections. This was accomplished in the patent of 1870; but with the improvement consisting of the valve in the diaphragm the steam may be admitted into the pipe A, allowing the water to fall to boiler-level and letting the hot steam into the expansible tube screwed into the top of the pipe A, causing the said tube to operate the whistle-valve, indicating in an instant whether or not the device is in perfect working order, as is evident.

Having described the device, what I claim is r 1. In a \vater'indicator, a perforated diaphragm separating the steam and water passages, the said perforation being normally closed by a proper valve, substantially as specified.

2. In a water-indicator, the water pipe and steanrpipe formed integral with each other and separated by a perforated diaphragm, and a valve closing the said perforation and operated by a threaded stem passing through a LEVI F. SMITH.

W'itnesses:

CHAS. D. DAVIS, F. T. CHAPMAN. 

